Town of New Haven

Town of New Haven Selectboard Meeting

7:00 pm Town Offices

Monday, May 19, 2008

 

Present: Keith Hall, Pam Marsh, Pat Paquette, Roger Boise, Lowell Nottingham and Pam Kingman

Others: Peter Morris, Bill Paine, Steve Dupoise, Barb Torian, Beverly Landon, Michelle Litch, Claire Van Buren, Jerry Smiley, Jeff Everest, Suzy Roorda

 

AGENDA RESULTS:

 

VISITORS BUSINESS:

  1. Lister, Bill Paine – Reappraisal: The Listers have conducted a thorough search for a competent reappraisal firm, but have been disappointed by the responses. Bill Paine asked if the Selectboard would be willing to renegotiate with Kermit Blaisdell from Vermont Appraisal Company. Mr. Blaisdell has done the Town wide reappraisals in the past and he is very familiar with the properties in Town. Bill Paine said we may be able to get Kermit Blaisdell one day a week to help assess values, then the Town Listers can feed the information into the computer. Kermit Blaisdell fee is  $115,000 over a five year period for a rolling reappraisal. Pam Marsh made a motion to have the Listers negotiate further with Kermit Blaisdell and report back to the Selectboard with an updated contract, seconded by Keith Hall. 5 yes / 0 no
  2. Architect, Peter Morris – Numbers for the new Town Office / Library: Peter Morris handed out a budget sheet with breakdowns that include the building budget, landscape budget, and excavation budget. (See Attached) There was some discussion on the geothermal pump and how it will utilize the decommissioned well on the property.  The Library asked if a utility closet for the Town Office could be changed into a small space to be used by the Library.  Peter Morris explained that in order to give the Library extra space, the Town Offices would have to give up an office; which the Town cannot really do. Peter Morris will also get prices on air exchange / shelving for inside the vault and cabling for the computers. Jerry Smiley was concerned that the Town Office furnishings would be included in the price of the building. Each Town employee has a desk, chair etc. that they will take to the new offices; they may need additional filing cabinets. Steve Dupoise added Goodrich in Vergennes sometimes looks to pass on office furniture we may be able to get some furnishings there. Mr. Morris said he has prepared some graphic renderings to share with the public. An Informational Meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall.  A Special Town Meeting on June 30, 2008 at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall. Voting will be Tuesday, July 1, 2008; 7 am – 7 pm in the Town Hall.
  3. Eric Larrow – Complaint about Hunt Road: No Show
  4. Suzy Roorda – Town Hall Applications: Pre-approved Application for Phyllis Romine, a.k.a. Grandma Phyllis.  Free Children’s Painting Workshop, held on July 12, 2008. Set up from 10 -11 am, Class held from 11am – 12:30 pm, clean up after. Fee waived, contact is Phyllis Romine. Lowell Nottingham made a motion to approve the pre-approved application, seconded by Pat Paquette. 5 yes / 0 no  
  5. Beverly Landon – Handed out two large fact sheets she compiled from when she was the Town Clerk and Treasurer.  One for the roads and the other on several different spending accounts. The Selectboard thanked her for the information.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

  1. Agreement with Addison County Regional Planning for Consulting Services: This Agreement allows Amy Diller to act as the Project Manager through A.C.R.P.C. for the New Haven Sidewalk Project and the Beeman Safe Routes Sidewalk Project.  Pam Marsh made a motion to sign the Consulting Service Agreement with A.C.R.P.C., seconded by Lowell Nottingham. 5 yes / 0 no                                                              Bev Landon said in lieu of the Sidewalk project she wanted the Selectboard to be aware of information she located in Town Book 1, page 55. The book mentions the Old Stage Road that ran from the Middlebury Court House to Montpelier. Mrs. Landon is concerned that the original road may have been put there by the Legislature. If this is the case then the Town cannot remove that slip lane. She suggested the Selectboard look at the book.  Mrs. Landon showed the Board some old photos taken of the area around the Town Green. She feels the problem with the area is the hill and the low visibility. Bev Landon requested a site visit to Main St; she is willing to provide a semi truck and a small vehicle to show how difficult it is to see someone coming over the crest of the hill. Mrs. Landon said there will need to be traffic control. Keith Hall said he will work on setting up a site visit and let Mrs. Landon know.
  2. Pam Kingman wrote a letter to Joel Perrigo from VTRANS: Mr. Perrigo need verification from the Town stating The Town of New Haven agrees to hire Amy Diller as Project Manager for the Sidewalk Projects, through A.C.R.P.C.
  3. State of Vermont Policy and Planning Division RE: 2009 Enhancements Program Schedule and Process – Pam Marsh suggested passing it on to the Planning Commission. Pam Kingman will forward the material.
  4. Beeman Elementary School – Survey on trial parking: This was just a trial run to see how traffic would flow. The school sent out surveys to school age parents for feedback. Beeman will try another scenario soon.
  5. Michelle Moye – Emailed a complaint about River Road Park: Dogs running loose, loud parties, broken bottles, etc. This happens every year; the neighbors call the police but by the time they respond, the party goers are long gone. Pam Marsh thought if the Town called the State Police directly maybe they would check on the Park for us and respond when called by a concerned neighbor. Pam Marsh said she will contact the Sheriffs Department and ask if the Sheriffs Dept. work crew could help the Town by cleaning up the Park. Suzy Roorda added that many people informed her of several dump sites that were noted during Green Up day, one of them being River Rd. Park. Others include Plank Rd., Quarry Rd., Pearson Rd., Belden Falls Rd., and Dog Team Rd.  
  6. Open bids for the Town Hall windows: Two bids were received for the windows: 1) Taggart Brothers offered Farley white vinyl replacement for the sum of $14,900 or Anderson Classic Series windows for an additional $3,800. 2) Timber View Building and Restoration, Inc. offered Anderson Composite window for the sum of $9,800. Lowell Nottingham said he would like to talk to both contractors about their products before making a decision.  Money for this project will be taken out of the Reserved Facilities Fund, not to exceed $15,000. No action taken. Put on the Agenda for the June 3, 2008 meeting.
  7. Road Commissioners: Roger Boise continues to work on inventory at the shed. It is almost complete. Roger Boise submitted a journal he has kept for the last month on what the road crew was working on and what he and Pat Paquette were working on to help the road crew.  Mr. Boise submitted his mileage for the month. Pat Paquette and Roger Boise have been getting quotes on a new truck for the road crew. They are also considering a lease with the option to purchase. It would be a closed end lease and  we could own the truck for $1.00 at the end of the lease. Looking at a five year plan so it is paid off at the end of the lease.

 

REGULAR BUSINESS:

1.      Sign and approve minutes from May 6, 2008, Selectboard Meeting and from May 7, 2008, Public Hearing. Roger Boise made a motion to sign both minutes, seconded by Lowell Nottingham. 5 yes / 0 no

2.      Appointments: Planning Commission; ACRPC – Transportation Advisory Committee and Emergency Management Coordinator. No action taken.

 

 

TREASURER’S REPORT:

  1. Tax Anticipation Note – the rate is 2.3% from the bank. Pam Marsh made a motion to sign the Tax Anticipation Note, seconded by Pat Paquette. 5 yes / 0 no.
  2. Sign pay orders
  3. Sign pay role

 

MISC. CORRESPONDENCE:

  1. Notice of Application Withdrawal RE: Land Use Application #400008-4, Pike Industries. They have cut the number of hours they will be working at night.
  2. Forest Legacy Program – Public Meeting on May 27, 2008 at A.C.R.P.C.
  3. VLCT 2009 Legislative Policy Development – asking for interested and qualified folks to serve on several committees.

 

 

Lowell Nottingham made a motion to move into executive session to discuss a personnel issue at 9:00 pm, seconded by Pam Marsh. 5 yes / 0 no

 

Pam Marsh made a motion to come out of executive session at 9:30 pm, seconded by Roger Boise. 5 yes / 0 no

 

Pam Marsh made a motion to pay Roger Boise $.65 per mile for mileage while working as Road Commissioner using his personal vehicle, seconded by Pat Paquette. 4 yes / 1 abstention

 

Pam Marsh made a motion to have Pam Kingman purchase a locking file box to store personnel files in, seconded by Lowell Nottingham. 5 yes / 0 no

 

OLD BUSINESS:

 

Adjourn: 9:40 pm

Respectfully Submitted: